In December 2015, Indian Railways signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with which Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) for setting up Centres for Railway Research?

Introduction / Context:
This question focuses on the collaboration between Indian Railways and premier engineering institutes to promote research and innovation in the railway sector. Establishing Centres for Railway Research within Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) helps in developing new technologies for safety, infrastructure, rolling stock, signalling, and passenger comfort. Awareness of such partnerships is important for general knowledge, especially for aspirants of government and technical exams related to railways and infrastructure.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The event took place in December 2015.
• It involved Indian Railways signing an MoU with an IIT.
• The purpose was setting up Centres for Railway Research.
• Options list four IITs: IIT Madras, IIT Mandi, IIT Delhi and IIT Indore.

Concept / Approach:
The approach to such current affairs questions is to recall major government–institute collaborations and where they were established. Indian Railways has historically partnered with certain IITs with strong research capacities in transportation and structural engineering. In this case, the key is to remember that IIT Madras, which already had notable work in transportation systems and railway engineering, signed the MoU to host research centres focused on railway technologies.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on the time frame: December 2015, an MoU between Indian Railways and an IIT. Step 2: Recall from current affairs that IIT Madras has been a major partner of Indian Railways on several initiatives, including a dedicated Centre for Railway Research. Step 3: Consider the other IITs listed: IIT Mandi and IIT Indore are relatively newer campuses, and IIT Delhi is more commonly associated with other types of collaborations, though it is also prestigious. Step 4: Link this specific MoU with news about IIT Madras being chosen as the primary institute for advanced railway research. Step 5: Conclude that the correct option is IIT Madras.

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification can be done by checking official press releases from the Ministry of Railways or IIT Madras around December 2015. News summaries on government websites and reputed exam-preparation portals also highlight that the MoU for setting up Centres for Railway Research was signed with IIT Madras. Cross-referencing multiple credible sources eliminates confusion with other IITs and confirms that IIT Madras is the correct partner institute mentioned in this question.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• IIT Mandi: While it is a growing institute, it has not been prominently reported as the host of the main Centre for Railway Research linked to the December 2015 MoU.
• IIT Delhi: Although highly reputed and involved in many collaborations, the specific MoU mentioned in the question is associated with IIT Madras rather than IIT Delhi.
• IIT Indore: Similar to IIT Mandi, this is a newer IIT without the widely publicised railway research collaboration referred to here.

Common Pitfalls:
A common error is to choose an IIT based only on overall reputation and name recognition, such as IIT Delhi, instead of recalling the specific news item. Another pitfall is confusing different MoUs signed by Indian Railways with multiple institutions over the years and mixing up the details. To avoid these mistakes, it helps to maintain brief notes on major collaborations, sorted by sector (railways, energy, space, etc.), and periodically revise them before exams. Paying attention to dates and exact wording in the question, such as 'December 2015' and 'Centres for Railway Research', also prevents incorrect associations.

Final Answer:
The MoU signed in December 2015 for setting up Centres for Railway Research was between Indian Railways and IIT Madras.